The Youth Ministry MA and Doctorate in Ministry, part of a programme of Theology and Ministry, are currently run by the Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture (CTRC) within King’s. After 20 years, the centre is to close along with the awards that it runs, with all staff being made redundant at the end of this academic year. This staff includes youth ministry author Dr Pete Ward, one of the founders of Oxford Youth Works and CYM, then known as the Centre for Youth Ministry.
No students were consulted in this process, and as such, those currently studying for a doctorate will no longer have expert supervision in their areas of research from September. One student said that this threatened to undermine the integrity of his research. A group of students wrote to the vice principal of King’s saying: ‘This work is of immense value in contributing to, challenging and transforming ecclesial practice in service of society in our country and internationally. The research of Prof. Ward, and that which we are undertaking under his supervision, combines theological and empirical methodologies to critically examine the relationship between Christianity and contemporary culture, in order to develop constructive approaches to contemporary Church ministry. In light of recent public debates in politics and the media over the role of religion and the Christian faith within our society, this groundbreaking research is immensely valuable. The unique interdisciplinary nature of this approach to theological and ecclesial enquiry is a major resource to those working at the intersections of religion and culture; in particular church leaders, ministers, religious educators and youth workers. That which is unique in the Centre for Theology, Religion and Culture, and Prof. Ward’s work will not be easily replaced.’
Mark Scanlan, a PhD researcher at the centre told Premier Youthwork: ‘I went to Kings for the MA because of the reputation of Pete Ward and the programme and because I felt the need to reflect afresh on my ministry and work as a youth pastor. [The closure of the centre] is a huge shame and a loss to the Church, as it will remove an opportunity through which youth ministers, church leaders and others could critically reflect on their ministry and engage theologically in the challenges of ministry life and practice. It will now be harder for youth ministers and others to access this kind of opportunity.’
David Welch, Guildford diocesan youth adviser told Premier Youthwork: ‘The department at Kings has been massively influential for a huge number of youth ministers from across the UK and the rest of the world. I was desperately disappointed to hear the announcement of its closure. My own thinking was profoundly challenged and developed by my MA studies there and I could not be doing what I am doing now without that formational learning experience with my course colleagues at Kings. The department and their influence will be greatly missed’.
The closure of this department follows the news of a similar closure of the International Christian College in Glasgow earlier this year. It has also been reported that numbers of students are down across other Christian youth work training institutions.
Comment
Dr Nick Shepherd
The closure of the CTRC is a major blow to theological education in the UK. The postgraduate and doctoral programmes there have enabled hundreds of youth workers, worship leaders and ministers to engage in study and research that has significantly enhanced their work. For me, the opportunity to do focused doctoral work on youth ministry in a major UK university was immensely significant, as I know it has been for colleagues in CYM and elsewhere. Losing this capacity damages our whole sector. Many of the leaders of significant projects, including key staff in CYM and other training providers, have benefitted from the education Kings’ has provided. This will be missed.
The impact of the work that Prof. Pete Ward undertook on Christian youth work and contemporary ecclesiology is well known, but CTRC was also crucial for the development of Religious Education as a firm aspect of the teaching profession. Research from the centre has produced key studies into Alpha, use of the Bible in contemporary churches, theology of fresh expression, understanding online gaming and community, the theology of relational youth work, young people’s faith development and much, much more! While CYM and other institutions will continue to pursue such research, losing this focus from a ‘research-intensive university’ is a blow to the academic development of our field.
It is sad to see this closure coming so hot on the heels of the withdrawal of ICC from degree-level training. It shows the precarious position that all of us involved in theological education for mission and ministry are in. I believe that the changes made to higher education funding are killing our capacity to train future generations. While responding to this crisis provokes creativity, we also need to see greater institutional backing from churches and denominations. Thankfully, in my conversations with senior leaders, it appears that it is being taken seriously. Those of us responsible for the continuation of undergraduate and postgraduate education for youth work and ministry cannot afford to sleepwalk into a competitive battle for survival. We need to work together not only so that our existing institutions can thrive, but also so we can help to meet the training needs of future generations of volunteer and workers.
Dr Nick Shepherd is Director and CEO of the Institute for Children Youth and Mission (CYM). Nick completed his PhD at King’s College London in 2009 on the impact that youth ministry has on young people’s faith identity.
